| Answering the question, "Which small trimaran do I | | | | are willing to get a used boat then you might be able |
| want to get?" is a matter of personal choice. The | | | | to save a bit of cash ... whether choosing a boat that is |
| deciding factor will depend upon your own personal | | | | either commercially manufactured or owner-built. |
| preferences and boating goals. So while it's not | | | | -- "How much money do I have to spend?" This is a |
| possible to provide a general answer, it is possible to | | | | big one. Your "recreation budget" set aside for sailing |
| review the more common questions that will ultimately | | | | will more often than not determine if you can purchase |
| affect what sailboat you want to own. | | | | a brand new boat ... or what kind of a boat you can |
| -- "What kind of small trimaran do I want?" This is | | | | afford to build yourself, including the cost for plans and |
| probably the first question. Another way to approach | | | | building materials. |
| this one is to ask yourself, "What do I want to DO with | | | | -- "How long am I willing to wait for my prized |
| my sailboat?" | | | | sailboat?" If you want to buy a commercially available |
| Do you want a super-speed-machine? A recreational | | | | trimaran then you can save for it instead of buying on |
| day cruiser? A relatively well performing (fast and | | | | credit if you don't have all the money upfront. If you'd |
| easy handling sailboat) that also features a small cabin | | | | like to build a small trimaran on your own then you will |
| -- thus allowing it to become a "weekender" instead of | | | | have to plan for how long a building project like that is |
| a just a "day cruiser?" How comfortable do you want | | | | likely going to be. Will it be a few months ... or might it |
| your boat to be ... do you absolutely want a cozy | | | | be a year or more ... and if it is a year or more then |
| sit-down seat, or are you willing to ride on just a small | | | | could you simply save the money to buy the boat you |
| hiking seat or trampoline? How big do you want your | | | | want during this time instead of building it yourself? |
| boat to be? (The smaller a boat is the more "wet" | | | | There are other questions you can (and should) |
| your ride is likely to be. If you really want a wet and | | | | answer, of course. For example, where are you going |
| wild ride during the dog days of summer then regularly | | | | to store your boat? Will you will buy or borrow a trailer |
| getting doused with water is fine). | | | | to get your boat to the water? How much effort is it |
| -- "Do I want to simply buy or factory-order a | | | | going to take to keep the boat in excellent condition? |
| commercial boat, or am I willing to build one myself?" If | | | | Etc. |
| you want to get a small trimaran that is only available | | | | If you consider questions like those above it may help |
| commercially then, naturally, you're choices among | | | | you understand the market better so you can choose |
| boats will be restricted to what is available from | | | | just what kind of trimaran is the right one for you. A |
| commercial manufacturers. If you're willing to build then | | | | hasty decision is more prone to be regretted later on. |
| you have to ask yourself if you've got the skills (or if | | | | Enjoy the research process. When it comes to small |
| you can realistically acquire the skills necessary) to | | | | trimarans, your initial research may be almost as much |
| build your own boat? | | | | fun as finally deciding which boat you're going to sail. |
| -- "Am I willing to buy a used small trimaran?" If you | | | | |